Page 131 - Modern Chinese Paintings, Hk Nov. 27,2017

This present painting belonged to the noted Peking opera playwright Li 李釋戡（1888-1961），名宣倜，字釋堪、釋戡，福建人，民國時
Shikan (1888 – 1961). 期政治軍事人物，詩人，京劇劇作家，梅蘭芳的詩詞老師及梅蘭芳
京劇支持團體“綴玉軒”重要成員。李氏生於福建鹽商官宦世家，
Li Shikan, a native of Fujian, was a politician and military official during 詩詞家學深厚。他早年畢業於日本陸軍士官學校，一度銜至陸軍中
the Republic of China. Along with being a poet, playwright, and Mei 將。李氏早年習詩，與北京上海文人名士交游廣泛，後結識少年梅
Lanfang’s poetry teacher he was also a key member in Mei Lanfang’s 蘭芳，從此輔佐梅長達半個世紀之久，開創一代名伶傳奇。
Zhui Yu Xuan group, named after Mei’s residence in Beijing. Born
into a wealthy household of salt merchants, Li studied at the Imperial 梅蘭芳於民國初年嶄露頭角，二十年代即已在北京京劇界如日中
Japanese Army Academy, and entered the military during the end of the 天。梅蘭芳的成功與綴玉軒這一幕後支持團體不可分割，其中即包
Qing dynasty, rising through the ranks to become lieutenant general. 括李釋戡、齊如山、羅復堪等一眾文人名士。他們大多留洋歸來，
Li practised poetry at an early age and was acquainted with many 早年經歷相去甚遠，但因為梅蘭芳而聚集在一起，成為梅京劇事業
intellectuals and artists in Beijing and Shanghai, including the young Mei 的幕後支柱（下圖）。李釋戡是多面手，兼編劇、顧問、宣傳、交
Lanfang whom he met through a friend, and thus beginning a friendship 際職責於一身，曾為梅撰寫《洛神》等名段，在綴玉軒中佔據重要
spanning half a century. 位置，亦是梅氏改革京劇的主要推動者。

Mei Lanfang began to rise in prominence in the early years of the Republic 李氏與齊白石相識，亦當從綴玉軒和梅蘭芳說起。《白石老人自
of China, becoming one of the most famous Peking opera artists by the 述》記錄齊白石於民國九年跟梅蘭芳相識。“…他書斋名‘綴玉
1920s. Mei’s success was attributed not only to his talents but also a group 軒’，布置得很講究。…同時在座的，還有两人：一是汪靄士；一
of friends and supporters who helped promote his craft beyond Beijing. 是福建人李釋堪（宣倜），是教他作詩詞的，釋堪從此也成了我的
The Zhui Yu Xuan group included Li Shikan, Qi Rushan, Luo Fukan, 朋友。”此時，梅蘭芳在京劇界如日中天，齊白石卻境況窘迫。但
Huang Qiuyue and Zhao Shuyong. Li in particular took up many roles, 梅及門人待齊白石極為尊重，齊亦深為感激。李釋戡欽佩白石老人
acting as advisor, promotor, playwright and public relations manager, and 學識，曾讚譽他“詩中有畫畫中有詩”。自此齊李二人訂交。
helped write key roles such as Goddess of the River Luo. He was known as
an important motivator and key agent in reforming Peking opera. 本幅彩荷四屏寫於1923年。據梅蘭芳年譜，梅氏1924年正式拜師齊
白石，學習工筆草蟲。而齊白石亦驚歎於綴玉軒中花草之盛，常
Li’s acquaintance with Qi Baishi is linked to Mei Lanfang as recorded 往來寫生作畫。1923年，應正是齊白石與綴玉軒聯繫最為頻密的時
in Qi’s own biography in the ninth year of the Republic, 1920, which 期。齊白石早於1919年即移居北京以鬻畫刻印為生。當時他學的是
described their first meeting. Mei Lanfang was an admirer of Qi’s work, 八大山人冷逸的一路，不為北京人所喜愛。後經陳師曾勸告才另立
and Li viewed Qi Baishi as a teacher and mentor. 一格，自創紅花綠葉的寫意畫風。本幅即屬此一風格轉變時期的傑
構。荷花形態仍由大寫意筆法一氣呵成，但姿態各異，墨彩充盈。
This present painting, a set of four lotuses, was created in 1923, three 翠荷以墨色表現，濃淡變換，層次豐富。秋荷以淡赭色寫成，清新
years after the first meeting. According to The Chronicles of Mei Lanfang, 淡雅，風姿綽約。紅荷用色富麗，柔艷嬌媚。荷花、荷葉、蓮蓬不
Mei officially became Qi’s student in 1924, to learn how to paint insects 同時期的姿態於四屏中盡收眼底。整幅佈局錯落有致，落落大方，
and flora in gongbi style. Qi Baishi was also captivated by the beauty and 四屏一套，實為難得。
diversity of flora at Mei’s ZhuiYu Xuan residence, often visiting his home
to sketch. 1923 was most likely the period when Qi and Mei met most Mei Lanfang and friends, including Qi Rushan and Li
frequently. Shikan (back row, second from the right)
梅蘭芳（前排右二）與友人合影，齊如山（前排右一）李釋
Having moved from his hometown to Beijing in 1919, Qi slowly shifted 戡（後排右二）
his art inspiration and teachings from old masters such as Bada Shanren to
his own style, as advised by Chen Shizeng. In turn, he moved away from
gongbi style painting and worked on a more unique, xieyi type of painting,
exemplified in this present piece. Qi’s strokes take a bold approach as
he executes the stems, leaves and buds in dramatic strokes, where tonal
gradations and contrasts in colour highlight a crisp, fresh, and dramatic
vision of four lotus ponds of different seasons.With simple composition
and straightforward execution, Qi employs brushstrokes charged with ink
to paint rich lotus leaves, in stark constrast to the cool, long lotus stems
and bursts of colours from the lotus flower and buds.

Qi Baishi dedicated some of his early lotus paintings of the 1920s to Mei
Lanfang, displaying the latter’s preference in this subject matter.

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